According to Forde, Gundy’s character combined with him improbably becoming “the face of the transitioning Big 12 Conference” earned him the title of the most intriguing coach in all of college football. Forde added that Gundy “might have his best team” in his 13-season tenure as head coach in Stillwater.

Gundy wasn’t the only coach from the Big 12 to make the top five on the list. First-year Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley came in at No. 4 on the list, while first-year Texas coach and Big 12 newcomer Tom Herman landed right behind Riley at No. 5.

Riley, 33, is the youngest active FBS head coach, while Herman is looking to carry over his success at Houston to a Longhorns team that hopes to find its way back to being a national championship contender.

Will the three coaches see their teams finish in the same respective order in the conference standings this season? Time will only tell, but for now, Gundy is No. 1 in one poll.